Human Services

Program Description

The AS Human Services program prepares students for career pathways in a variety of human services fields of practice. It provides students with the academic foundation to transfer to four-year colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY) and other colleges to pursue a variety of bachelor’s degree options in the helping professions.

Human Services students are required to complete two semesters of Human Services fieldwork internships which provide supervised experiential learning opportunities applied to real work situations.  Students learn to apply theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom and test career choices in the real world. To further support student preparedness for entry-level human service employment, the AS curriculum embeds the Family Development Certificate as a stackable credit option towards one semester of the fieldwork requirement. Students with past or current employment histories in human services work will have the opportunity to apply for prior learning credits towards one semester of the fieldwork component of the degree program.

Program graduates are prepared for entry-level employment opportunities such as mental health aides, group residence workers, neighborhood outreach workers, case work assistants, geriatric counselors, assistant probation officers, and more.  Employment opportunities are found in the public and private levels of the human services delivery system, including day care, mental health, social services, older adult care, individuals with disabilities, residential treatment services, group and community work.

Graduates are prepared to pursue further education at senior colleges leading to a baccalaureate degree in several professional and disciplinary areas including social work, gerontology, juvenile justice, psychology, sociology, education, and counseling. The AS degree articulates with Lehman College. Students are encouraged to visit the Transfer Planning web site for more information.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Human Services program requirements, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic intervention process skills, which include the beginning ability to establish empathic relationships while providing direct service to individuals, families, groups, and communities.

2. Demonstrate generalist planning skills, which include the ability to analyze client needs, develop and implement a treatment plan, and determine the effectiveness of service.

3. Demonstrate information management skills, which include the ability to gather and assess client data, prepare and maintain adequate service records, and utilize resources in order to address client needs.

4. Demonstrate self-awareness and self-assessment skills, which include techniques that promote ongoing personal and professional development necessary to be an effective and non-judgmental human service worker.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Hisseine Faradj